Walker leads No. 4 UConn to a bounce-back rout of Memphis

By PAT EATON-ROBB

STORRS, CONN. (AP) — Megan Walker scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead No. 4 UConn to a 94-55 rout of Memphis on Friday night.

Christyn Williams added 20 points and Olivia Nelson Ododa had 19 points, making all nine of her shots for the Huskies (20-2, 10-0 American), who have won 20 games for the 27th straight year.

Madison Griggs scored 15 points for Memphis (12-11, 3-7), which lost for the first time in three games.

This game was sandwiched between the UConn’s embarrassing 74-56 loss Monday night to Oregon and next Monday’s game at top-ranked South Carolina.

But the Huskies did not play distracted.

Williams opened the scoring with a 3-pointer from the right baseline, UConn scored the first seven points and never trailed.

Freshman Anna Makurat had five of her season-high 11 assists in the first quarter and the Huskies had the game well under control after 10 minutes, leading 27-11.

UConn took its first 20-point lead at 39-17 on another of Williams four 3-pointers and led 54-23 at the break.

Walker took control of the offense after intermission, scoring 14 points and pulling down nine rebounds in the third quarter as the Huskies extended the lead to 79-38.

The win was the Huskies 130th without a loss in American Athletic Conference play. That includes 112 regular-season games and all six conference tournaments.

BIG PICTURE

Memphis: The Tigers are now 0-12 all-time against UConn, including a 12-point loss in Memphis on Jan. 14. Griggs had five 3-pointers, giving her 65 for the season.

UConn: Oregon shot 47.6% against UConn on Monday night and outscored them 44-14 in the paint. The Huskies held Memphis to 32% shooting and outscored the Tigers 46-24 in the lane.

UP NEXT

Memphis concludes its two-game road trip with a trip to Wichita State next Wednesday

UConn travels to South Carolina to take on the top-ranked Gamecocks on Monday night. It will be the Huskies last non-conference game this season.